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46 Famous Movie Scenes before and after Special EffectsBack in the day, filmmakers used matte paintings, miniature models and trick photography to achieve impossible looking cinematic effects. Today, Hollywood has nearly perfected the art and application of computer-generated imagery (CGI) in movies and TV shows. In fact, most film scenes that you think are filmed in spectacular locations are actually CGI composites shot in a studio. Here’s a list of 46 before-and-after CGI images that’ll leave you amazed.The AvengersMarvel's The Avengers (classified under the name Marvel Avengers Assemble in the United Kingdom and Ireland), or simply The Avengers, is a 2012 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics superhero team of the same name, produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. It is the sixth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The film was written and directed by Joss Whedon and features an ensemble cast that includes Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, and Jeremy Renner as the titular Avengers team, alongside Tom Hiddleston, Clark Gregg, Cobie Smulders, Stellan Skarsgård, and Samuel L. Jackson. In the film, Nick Fury, director of the peacekeeping organization S.H.I.E.L.D., recruits Tony Stark, Captain America, the Hulk, and Thor to form a team that must stop Thor's brother Loki from subjugating Earth.The film's development began when Marvel Studios received a loan from Merrill Lynch in April 2005. After the success of the film Iron Man in May 2008, Marvel announced that The Avengers would be released in July 2011. With the signing of Johansson in March 2009, the film was pushed back for a 2012 release. Whedon was brought on board in April 2010 and rewrote the original screenplay by Zak Penn. Production began in April 2011 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, before moving to Cleveland, Ohio, in August and New York City in September. The film was converted to 3D in post-production.AvatarAvatar, marketed as James Cameron's Avatar, is a 2009 American epic science fiction film directed, written, produced, and co-edited by James Cameron, and starring Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez, and Sigourney Weaver. The film is set in the mid-22nd century, when humans are colonizing Pandora, a lush habitable moon of a gas giant in the Alpha Centauri star system, in order to mine the mineral unobtanium, a room-temperature superconductor. The expansion of the mining colony threatens the continued existence of a local tribe of Na'vi – a humanoid species indigenous to Pandora. The film's title refers to a genetically engineered Na'vi body with the mind of a remotely located human that is used to interact with the natives of Pandora.Development of Avatar began in 1994, when Cameron wrote an 80-page treatment for the film. Filming was supposed to take place after the completion of Cameron's 1997 film Titanic, for a planned release in 1999, but, according to Cameron, the necessary technology was not yet available to achieve his vision of the film. Work on the language of the film's extraterrestrial beings began in 2005, and Cameron began developing the screenplay and fictional universe in early 2006. Avatar was officially budgeted at $237 million. Other estimates put the cost between $280 million and $310 million for production and at $150 million for promotion.[19][20][21] The film made extensive use of new motion capture filming techniques, and was released for traditional viewing, 3D viewing (using the RealD 3D, Dolby 3D, XpanD 3D, and IMAX 3D formats), and for "4D" experiences in select South Korean theaters. The stereoscopic filmmaking was touted as a breakthrough in cinematic technology.Alice in WonderlandAlice in Wonderland is a 2010 American fantasy adventure film directed by Tim Burton from a screenplay written by Linda Woolverton. The film stars Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter, Crispin Glover, Matt Lucas and Mia Wasikowska, and features the voices of Alan Rickman, Stephen Fry, Michael Sheen, and Timothy Spall. Based on Lewis Carroll's fantasy novels, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass, the film tells the story of a nineteen-year-old Alice Kingsleigh, who is told that she can restore the White Queen to her throne, with the help of the Mad Hatter. She is the only one who can slay the Jabberwock, a dragon-like creature that is controlled by the Red Queen and terrorizes Underland's inhabitants.The film was produced by Walt Disney Pictures and shot in the United Kingdom and the United States. The film premiered in London at the Odeon Leicester Square on February 25, 2010, and was released in Australia on March 4, 2010, and the following day in the United Kingdom and the United States through the Disney Digital 3D, RealD 3D, and IMAX 3D formats as well as in conventional theaters. It is also the second-highest-grossing film of 2010.Boardwalk EmpireBoardwalk Empire is an American period crime drama television series created by Terence Winter and broadcast on premium cable channel HBO. The series is set in Atlantic City, New Jersey, during the Prohibition era and stars Steve Buscemi as Nucky Thompson. Winter, a Primetime Emmy Award-winning screenwriter and producer, created the show, inspired by the book Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times, and Corruption of Atlantic City by Nelson Johnson about historical criminal kingpin Enoch L. Johnson.The pilot episode was directed by Martin Scorsese and produced at a cost of $18 million. On September 1, 2009, HBO picked up the series for an additional 11 episodes. The series premiered on September 19, 2010, and completed its five-season run on October 26, 2014.Captain AmericaCaptain America is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by cartoonists Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 (cover dated March 1941) from Timely Comics, a predecessor of Marvel Comics. Captain America was designed as a patriotic supersoldier who often fought the Axis powers of World War II and was Timely Comics' most popular character during the wartime period. The popularity of superheroes waned following the war and the Captain America comic book was discontinued in 1950, with a short-lived revival in 1953. Since Marvel Comics revived the character in 1964, Captain America has remained in publication.The character wears a costume bearing an American flag motif, and he utilizes a nearly indestructible shield which he throws as a projectile. Captain America is the alter ego of Steve Rogers, a frail young man enhanced to the peak of human perfection by an experimental serum to aid the United States government's efforts in World War II. Near the end of the war, he was trapped in ice and survived in suspended animation until he was revived in the present day. Although Captain America often struggles to maintain his ideals as a man out of his time with its modern realities, he remains a highly respected figure in his community which includes becoming the long-time leader of the Avengers.Deadly HoneymoonA wealthy couple take a honeymoon cruise in Tahiti, but the husband disappears without trace. The captain asks an FBI agent on holiday to investigate, believing he may have been murdered. Suspicion falls on his wife, who may have objected to his infidelities, but also a trio of Hungarian gamblers with shady secrets.District 9District 9 is a 2009 science fiction action horror film directed by Neill Blomkamp, written by Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell, and produced by Peter Jackson and Carolynne Cunningham. It is a co-production of New Zealand, the United States, and South Africa. The film stars Sharlto Copley, Jason Cope, and David James, and was adapted from Blomkamp's 2006 short film Alive in Joburg.The film is partially presented in a found footage format by featuring fictional interviews, news footage, and video from surveillance cameras. The story, which explores themes of humanity, xenophobia, and social segregation, begins in an alternate 1982, when an alien ship appears over Johannesburg, South Africa. When a population of sick and malnourished insect-like aliens is found aboard the ship, the South African government confines them to an internment camp called District 9. Years later, during the government's relocation of the aliens to another camp, one of the confined aliens named Christopher Johnson tries to escape with his son and return home, crossing paths with a bureaucrat named Wikus van der Merwe. The title and premise of District 9 were inspired by events in District Six, Cape Town, during the apartheid era.Game of ThronesGame of Thrones is an American fantasy drama television series created by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss. It is an adaptation of A Song of Ice and Fire, George R. R. Martin's series of fantasy novels, the first of which is A Game of Thrones. It is filmed in Belfast and elsewhere in the United Kingdom, Canada, Croatia, Iceland, Malta, Morocco, Spain, and the United States. The series premiered on HBO in the United States on April 17, 2011, and its seventh season ended on August 27, 2017. The series will conclude with its eighth season premiering in 2019.Set on the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos, Game of Thrones has several plot lines and a large ensemble cast but centers on three primary story arcs. The first story arc centers on the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms and follows a web of alliances and conflicts among the dynastic noble families either vying to claim the throne or fighting for independence from the throne. The second story arc focuses on the last descendant of the realm's deposed ruling dynasty, exiled and plotting a return to the throne. The third story arc centers on the longstanding brotherhood charged with defending the realm against the ancient threats of the fierce peoples and legendary creatures that lie far north, and an impending winter that threatens the realm.GravityGravity is a 2013 science fiction thriller film directed, co-written, co-edited, and produced by Alfonso Cuarón. It stars Sandra Bullock and George Clooney as American astronauts who are stranded in space after the mid-orbit destruction of their space shuttle, and their subsequent attempt to return to Earth.Cuarón wrote the screenplay with his son Jonás and attempted to develop the film at Universal Pictures. Later, the distribution rights were acquired by Warner Bros. Pictures. David Heyman, who previously worked with Cuarón on Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004), produced the film with him. Gravity was produced entirely in the United Kingdom, where British visual effects company Framestore spent more than three years creating most of the film's visual effects, which make up over 80 of its 91 minutes.Grey’s AnatomyGrey's Anatomy is an American medical drama television series that premiered on March 27, 2005, on American Broadcasting Company (ABC) as a mid-season replacement. The fictional series focuses on the lives of surgical interns, residents, and attending physicians, as they develop into seasoned doctors while trying to maintain personal lives and relationships. The title is a play on Gray's Anatomy, a classic human anatomy textbook first published in 1858 in London and written by Henry Gray. Shonda Rhimes developed the pilot and continues to write for the series; she is also one of the executive producers, along with Betsy Beers, Mark Gordon, Krista Vernoff, Rob Corn, Mark Wilding, and Allan Heinberg. Although the series is set in Seattle (at the fictional Seattle Grace, later known as the Grey-Sloan Memorial Hospital), it is filmed primarily in Los Angeles, California.The series was designed to be racially diverse and used color-blind casting. It revolves around the title character, Dr. Meredith Grey, played by Ellen Pompeo, first featured as an intern. The original cast consisted of nine star-billed actors: Pompeo, Sandra Oh, Katherine Heigl, Justin Chambers, T. R. Knight, Chandra Wilson, James Pickens Jr., Isaiah Washington and Patrick Dempsey. The cast has undergone major changes through the series' run, with many members leaving and being replaced by others. In its fourteenth season, the show had a large ensemble of fourteen actors, including four characters from the original cast (Meredith Grey, Alex Karev, Miranda Bailey, and Richard Webber).The HobbitThe Hobbit is a film series consisting of three high fantasy adventure films directed by Peter Jackson. They are based on the 1937 novel The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien, with large portions of the trilogy inspired by the appendices to The Return of the King, which expand on the story told in The Hobbit, as well as new material and characters written especially for the films. Together they act as a prequel to Jackson's The Lord of the Rings film trilogy. The films are subtitled An Unexpected Journey (2012), The Desolation of Smaug (2013), and The Battle of the Five Armies (2014).The screenplay was written by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Jackson, and Guillermo del Toro, who was originally chosen to direct before his departure from the project. The films take place in the fictional world of Middle-earth sixty years before the beginning of The Lord of the Rings, and follow hobbit Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman), who is convinced by the wizard Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellen) to accompany thirteen dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage), on a quest to reclaim the Lonely Mountain from the dragon Smaug (voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch). The films also expand upon certain elements from the novel and other source material, such as Gandalf's investigation at Dol Guldur, and the pursuit of Azog and Bolg, who seek vengeance against Thorin and his ancestors.The Hunger GamesThe Hunger Games is a trilogy of young adult dystopian novels written by American novelist Suzanne Collins. The series is set in The Hunger Games universe, and follows young characters Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark.The novels in the trilogy are titled The Hunger Games (2008), Catching Fire (2009), and Mockingjay (2010). The novels have all been developed into films starring Jennifer Lawrence, with the film adaptation of Mockingjay split into two parts. The first two books in the series were both New York Times best sellers, and Mockingjay topped all US bestseller lists upon its release. By the time the film adaptation of The Hunger Games was released in 2012, the publisher had reported over 26 million Hunger Games trilogy books in print, including movie tie-in books.Iron ManIron Man is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer and editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby. The character made his first appearance in Tales of Suspense #39 (cover dated March 1963).A wealthy American business magnate, playboy, and ingenious scientist, Anthony Edward "Tony" Stark suffers a severe chest injury during a kidnapping. When his captors attempt to force him to build a weapon of mass destruction, he instead creates a powered suit of armor to save his life and escape captivity. Later, Stark develops his suit, adding weapons and other technological devices he designed through his company, Stark Industries. He uses the suit and successive versions to protect the world as Iron Man. Although at first concealing his true identity, Stark eventually declared that he was, in fact, Iron Man in a public announcement.Life of PiLife of Pi is a Canadian fantasy adventure novel by Yann Martel published in 2001. The protagonist is Piscine Molitor "Pi" Patel, an Indian boy from Pondicherry who explores issues of spirituality and practicality from an early age. He survives 227 days after a shipwreck while stranded on a lifeboat in the Pacific Ocean with a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker.The novel has sold more than ten million copies worldwide. It was rejected by at least five London publishing houses before being accepted by Knopf Canada, which published it in September 2001. The UK edition won the Man Booker Prize for Fiction the following year. It was also chosen for CBC Radio's Canada Reads 2003, where it was championed by author Nancy Lee.Man of SteelMan of Steel is a 2013 superhero film based on the DC Comics character Superman. It is a British-American venture produced by Legendary Pictures, DC Entertainment, Syncopy Inc., and Cruel and Unusual Films, and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. It is the first installment in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). The film is directed by Zack Snyder written by David S. Goyer, and stars Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, Kevin Costner, Diane Lane, Laurence Fishburne, Antje Traue, Ayelet Zurer, Christopher Meloni, and Russell Crowe. Man of Steel is a reboot of the Superman film series that retells the character's origin story. In the film, Clark Kent learns that he is a superpowered alien from the planet Krypton and assumes the role of mankind's protector as Superman, but finds himself having to prevent General Zod from destroying humanity.Development began in 2008, when Warner Bros. took pitches from comic book writers, screenwriters, and directors, opting to reboot the franchise. In 2009, a court ruling resulted in Jerry Siegel's family recapturing the rights to Superman's origins and Siegel's copyright. The decision stated that Warner Bros. did not owe the families additional royalties from previous films, but if they did not begin production on a Superman film by 2011, then the Shuster and Siegel estates would be able to sue for lost revenue on an unproduced film. Producer Christopher Nolan pitched Goyer's idea after story discussion on The Dark Knight Rises, and Snyder was hired as the film's director in October 2010. Principal photography began in August 2011 in West Chicago, Illinois, before moving to Vancouver and Plano, Illinois.Oz the Great and PowerfulOz the Great and Powerful is a 2013 American fantasy adventure film directed by Sam Raimi and produced by Joe Roth, from a screenplay written by David Lindsay-Abaire and Mitchell Kapner. The film stars James Franco, Michelle Williams, Rachel Weisz and Mila Kunis, with Zach Braff, Bill Cobbs, Joey King, and Tony Cox in supporting roles. Based on L. Frank Baum's Oz novels and set 20 years before the events of the original novel, Oz the Great and Powerful is a spiritual prequel to the 1939 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film, The Wizard of Oz. The film tells the story of Oscar Diggs, a deceptive magician who arrives in the Land of Oz and encounters three witches: Theodora, Evanora, and Glinda. Oscar is then enlisted to restore order in Oz, while struggling to resolve conflicts with the witches and himself.Kapner began developing an origin story for the Wizard of Oz after a lifelong interest of wanting to create one for the character. Walt Disney Pictures commissioned the film's production in 2009, with Joe Roth as producer and Grant Curtis, Joshua Donen, Philip Steuer, and Palak Patel serving as executive producers. Raimi was hired to direct the following year. After Robert Downey Jr. and Johnny Depp declined the titular role, Franco was cast in February 2011, with principal photography commencing five months later. Danny Elfman composed the film's score.Pirates of the CaribbeanPirates of the Caribbean is a Disney media franchise encompassing numerous theme park attractions, a series of films, and spin-off novels, as well as a number of related video games and other media publications. The franchise originated with the Pirates of the Caribbean theme ride attraction, which opened at Disneyland in 1967 and was one of the last Disney theme park attractions overseen by Walt Disney. Disney based the ride on pirate legends and folklore. As of October 2016, Pirates of the Caribbean attractions can be found at five Disney theme parks. Their related films have grossed over US$ 3.7 billion worldwide as of January 2015,[1] putting the film franchise 11th in the list of all-time highest grossing franchises and film series.Rise of the Planet of the ApesRise of the Planet of the Apes is a 2011 American science fiction film directed by Rupert Wyatt and starring James Franco, Freida Pinto, John Lithgow, Brian Cox, Tom Felton, David Oyelowo, and Andy Serkis. Written by Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, it is 20th Century Fox's reboot of the Planet of the Apes series, intended to act as an origin story for a new series of films. Its premise is similar to the fourth film in the original series, Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972), but it is not a direct remake of that film.Rise of the Planet of the Apes was released on August 5, 2011, to critical and commercial success. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. It was also nominated for five Saturn Awards including Best Director for Wyatt and Best Writing for Jaffa and Silver, winning Best Science Fiction Film, Best Supporting Actor for Serkis and Best Special Effects. Serkis's performance as Caesar was widely acclaimed, earning him many nominations from associations which do not usually recognize performance capture as traditional acting. A sequel to the film, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, was released on July 11, 2014, and a third film, War for the Planet of the Apes, was released on July 14, 2017.The Dark Knight RisesThe Dark Knight Rises is a 2012 superhero film directed by Christopher Nolan, who co-wrote the screenplay with his brother Jonathan Nolan, and the story with David S. Goyer.[5] Featuring the DC Comics character Batman, the film is the final installment in Nolan's The Dark Knight Trilogy, and the sequel to The Dark Knight (2008). Christian Bale reprises the lead role of Bruce Wayne/Batman, with a returning cast of allies: Michael Caine as Alfred Pennyworth, Gary Oldman as James Gordon, and Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox. The film introduces Selina Kyle (Anne Hathaway) and Bane (Tom Hardy). Eight years after the events of The Dark Knight, merciless revolutionary Bane forces an older Bruce Wayne to resume his role as Batman and save Gotham City from nuclear destruction.Christopher Nolan was hesitant about returning to the series for a second time, but agreed after developing a story with his brother and Goyer that he felt would conclude the series on a satisfactory note. Nolan drew inspiration from Bane's comic book debut in the 1993 "Knightfall" storyline, the 1986 series The Dark Knight Returns, and the 1999 storyline "No Man's Land". Filming took place from May to November 2011 in locations including Jodhpur, London, Nottingham, Glasgow, Los Angeles, New York City, Newark, and Pittsburgh. Nolan used IMAX 70 mm film cameras for much of the filming, including the first six minutes of the film, to optimize the quality of the picture. A vehicle variation of the Batplane and Batcopter termed the "Bat", an underground prison set, and a new Batcave set were created specifically for the film. As with The Dark Knight, viral marketing campaigns began early during production. When filming concluded, Warner Bros. refocused its campaign: developing promotional websites, releasing the first six minutes of the film, screening theatrical trailers, and sending out information regarding the film's plot.The Dark KnightThe Dark Knight is a 2008 superhero film directed, produced, and co-written by Christopher Nolan. Featuring the DC Comics character Batman, the film is the second part of Nolan's The Dark Knight Trilogy and a sequel to 2005's Batman Begins, starring an ensemble cast including Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Heath Ledger, Gary Oldman, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Morgan Freeman. In the film, Bruce Wayne / Batman (Bale), Police Lieutenant James Gordon (Oldman) and District Attorney Harvey Dent (Eckhart) form an alliance to dismantle organized crime in Gotham City, but are menaced by a criminal mastermind known as the Joker (Ledger) who seeks to undermine Batman's influence and create chaos.Nolan's inspiration for the film was the Joker's comic book debut in 1940, the 1988 graphic novel The Killing Joke, and the 1996 series The Long Halloween, which retold Two-Face's origin. The "Dark Knight" nickname was first applied to Batman in Batman #1 (1940), in a story written by Bill Finger.[4][5] The Dark Knight was filmed primarily in Chicago, as well as in several other locations in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Hong Kong. Nolan used IMAX 70 mm film cameras to film some sequences, including the Joker's first appearance in the film. Warner Bros. initially created a viral marketing campaign for The Dark Knight, developing promotional websites and trailers highlighting screenshots of Ledger as the Joker. Ledger died on January 22, 2008, some months after the completed filming and six months before the film's release from a toxic combination of prescription drugs, leading to intense attention from the press and movie-going public.The Great GatsbyThe Great Gatsby is a 2013 romance drama film based on F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1925 novel of the same name. The film was co-written and directed by Baz Luhrmann and stars Leonardo DiCaprio as the eponymous Jay Gatsby, with Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan, Joel Edgerton, Isla Fisher and Elizabeth Debicki. Production began in 2011 and took place in Australia, with a $190 million budget. The film follows the life and times of millionaire Jay Gatsby and his neighbor Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire), who recounts his encounter with Gatsby at the height of the Roaring Twenties in New York state.The film polarized critics, receiving both praise and criticism for its acting performances, soundtrack, visual style, and direction. Audiences responded more positively and Fitzgerald's granddaughter praised the film, stating "Scott would have been proud." As of 2017, it is Luhrmann's highest-grossing film, grossing over $353 million worldwide. At the 86th Academy Awards, the film won in both of its nominated categories: Best Production Design and Best Costume Design.The MatrixThe Matrix is a 1999 science fiction action film written and directed by The Wachowskis (credited as The Wachowski Brothers) and starring Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, and Joe Pantoliano. It depicts a dystopian future in which reality as perceived by most humans is actually a simulated reality called "the Matrix", created by sentient machines to subdue the human population, while their bodies' heat and electrical activity are used as an energy source. Cybercriminal and computer programmer Neo learns this truth and is drawn into a rebellion against the machines, which involves other people who have been freed from the "dream world."The Matrix is known for popularizing a visual effect known as "bullet time", in which the heightened perception of certain characters is represented by allowing the action within a shot to progress in slow-motion while the camera's viewpoint appears to move through the scene at normal speed. The film is an example of the cyberpunk subgenre. It contains numerous references to philosophical and religious ideas, and prominently pays homage to works such as Plato's Allegory of the Cave, Jean Baudrillard's Simulacra and Simulation and Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. The Wachowskis' approach to action scenes drew upon their admiration for Japanese animation[8] and martial arts films, and the film's use of fight choreographers and wire fu techniques from Hong Kong action cinema influenced subsequent Hollywood action film productions.The Secret in Their EyesSecret in Their Eyes is a 2015 American psychological thriller film written and directed by Billy Ray and a remake of the 2009 Argentine film of the same name, both based on the novel La pregunta de sus ojos by author Eduardo Sacheri. The film stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Nicole Kidman, Julia Roberts, Dean Norris, and Michael Kelly.The film was released by STXfilms on November 20, 2015. It received mixed reception from critics, who praised its performances but compared it unfavourably to the original.The Walking DeadThe Wolf of Wall StreetThe Wolf of Wall Street is a 2013 American biographical black comedy[3] directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Terence Winter, based on the memoir of the same name by Jordan Belfort. It recounts Belfort's perspective on his career as a stockbroker in New York City and how his firm Stratton Oakmont engaged in rampant corruption and fraud on Wall Street that ultimately led to his downfall. Leonardo DiCaprio (who was also a producer) stars as Belfort, with Jonah Hill as his business partner and friend Donnie Azoff, Margot Robbie as his wife Naomi Lapaglia and Kyle Chandler as Patrick Denham, the FBI agent who tries to bring him down. Matthew McConaughey, Rob Reiner, Jon Favreau, Joanna Lumley and Jean Dujardin also star. The film marks the director's fifth collaboration with DiCaprio, after Gangs of New York (2002), The Aviator (2004), The Departed (2006) and Shutter Island (2010), as well as his second collaboration with Winter after the television series Boardwalk Empire (2010–14).TransformersTransformers is a series of American science fiction fantasy action films based on the toys created by Hasbro and Tomy. Michael Bay has directed the first five films: Transformers (2007), Revenge of the Fallen (2009), Dark of the Moon (2011), Age of Extinction (2014) and The Last Knight (2017). A spin-off entitled Bumblebee: The Movie, directed by Travis Knight and produced by Michael Bay, is scheduled for December 21, 2018. The series has been distributed by Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks.The live-action film series has received mixed reception, with criticism of the plots, sophomoric humor, overuse of product placements and the lengths of the films, but praise of the visual effects, action sequences and music. It is the 11th-highest-grossing film series, with a total of $4.3 billion; two films in the series have individually grossed over $1 billion.The Twilight Saga: Breaking DawnThe Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 (commonly referred to as Breaking Dawn: Part 1) is a 2011 American romantic fantasy film directed by Bill Condon and based on the novel Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer. The first part of a two-part film forms the fourth and penultimate installment in The Twilight Saga film series, and is the beginning of the 2012 film Breaking Dawn: Part 2. All three main cast members, Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, and Taylor Lautner, reprised their roles.Wyck Godfrey and Karen Rosenfelt served as producers of the film, along with the author of the series, Stephenie Meyer; the screenplay was written by Melissa Rosenberg, the screenwriter of the first three entries. It was released in theaters on November 18, 2011, and released to DVD on February 11, 2012 in the United States. The film grossed over $712 million worldwide. Though the film gained predominantly negative critical reviews, it was a box office hit.300300 is a 2006 American epic war film based on the 1998 comic series 300 by Frank Miller and Lynn Varley. Both are fictionalized retellings of the Battle of Thermopylae within the Persian Wars. The film was directed by Zack Snyder, while Miller served as executive producer and consultant. It was filmed mostly with a super-imposition chroma key technique, to help replicate the imagery of the original comic book.The plot revolves around King Leonidas (Gerard Butler), who leads 300 Spartans into battle against the Persian "god-King" Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro) and his invading army of more than 300,000 soldiers. As the battle rages, Queen Gorgo (Lena Headey) attempts to rally support in Sparta for her husband. The story is framed by a voice-over narrative by the Spartan soldier Dilios (David Wenham). Through this narrative technique, various fantastical creatures are introduced, placing 300 within the genre of historical fantasy.Sources: 46 Famous Movie Scenes Before And After Special Effects

Perhaps you should channel your writing by being involved in the school paper or Year Book, debate team, essay contests etc.beginning of content:The Atlantic & College Board Writing Prize2016 Writing Prize Winner AnnouncedThe College Board and The Atlantic want to thank all students who submitted entries for the 2016 Writing Prize. We’re encouraged by the positive response of students who, through this exercise, learned the importance of analytical and reflective writing, essential skills for college and career success, while thoughtfully engaging with a variety of artworks. Entries were judged by 24 college professors of art history and composition who read over 1,600 submitted essays from the U.S. and 43 other countries. They were impressed by the intelligence and passion shown by students in describing their engagement with great works of art.This year’s winner, selected by a panel of College Board and Atlantic staff, is Thanh Nguyen, a student at Hanoi-Amsterdam High School for the Gifted in Hanoi, Vietnam. His essay — on School of Athens by Renaissance artist Raphael — stood out for his rich interpretation of the painting and his thoughtful and engaging description of its relevance to his life in contemporary Hanoi. For his accomplishment, Mr. Nguyen was recognized at [Opens in New Window]The Atlantic Education Summit in Washington, D.C., on May 17th. He received a $5,000 prize, and his essay will be published in the September 2016 issue of The Atlantic.Two finalists each received $2,500 prizes. Alejandra Canales attends John B. Alexander High School in Laredo, Texas. She was recognized for her powerful writing about culture and identity in her analysis of Frida Kahlo’s painting Autorretrato en la frontera entre México y Estados Unidos. Her fellow finalist, Rahul Malayappan, is from Danbury High School in Danbury, Connecticut. His essay was selected for its sophisticated analysis of M. C. Escher’s lithograph Waterfall and for its exploration of reality versus perception and the limits of perspective.The Importance of WritingTeacher ResourcesThe new online module [Opens in New Window]Writing About Art offers strategies to help students transform their analysis and interpretation of art to writing.Writing is one of the most important skills to master. Not only is writing essential for college and career, but learning to write clearly also helps students develop their thinking skills. To be successful at analytical writing, students must support their arguments with evidence found in the text and clearly convey information to the reader. It is this kind of writing that allows students to build knowledge, deepen understanding, and develop informed opinions.With this in mind, [Opens in New Window]The Atlantic and the College Board have collaborated to create this annual contest. The focus of this contest will change each year to align with the introduction of a newly redesigned AP course and exam.27 Free Writing Contests: Legitimate Competitions With Cash PrizesFebruary 11, 2016 By Kelly Gurnett 236 CommentsWhen I was about 12, I saw an ad in a magazine for a poetry contest that sounded fancy and impressive, something like “International Library of Poetry.” I bled poetry at that age, so I crossed my fingers and sent in a poem I’d been slaving over for weeks.And, lo and behold, the people behind the contest quickly wrote back to tell me my poem had been selected as a winner!I was speechless with honor. Of the thousands of poets who must have submitted to the contest — no doubt many of them adults much wiser and more skilled than me — my poem had been chosen to be featured in an exclusive, hardcover anthology! And honored on a something-karat-gold plaque!Of course, I had to pay $50 if I wanted to see my work in print in the anthology, and I had to pay another $100 if I wanted the plaque. Those were the only “prizes.”Even as a pre-teen, I sensed a scam.Sadly, not much has changed when it comes to companies trying to take advantage of writers who want a chance at recognition and maybe a little bit of money. Google the term “writing contests,” and you’ll come up with approximately 7.9 million results. It can be hard for a writer to know where to start looking for competitions, and how to tell if they’re legitimate or not.So I’ve done the legwork for you.Here are 29 reputable, well-reviewed, free writing contests for poets, fiction writers, essayists and more. Some legitimate contests do charge a small entry or “reading” fee, but often a fee can be a red flag for a scam, so you may want to stick to free writing contests — and there are certainly enough of them.Fiction and nonfiction writing contestsReady to share your novel or personal essay with the world? Whether you’re a newbie or more established writer, you’re likely eligible for a few of these contests.1. L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future ContestWhatever your feelings about L. Ron Hubbard’s work and philosophy, the prizes for this regular contest are nothing to sneeze at. Every three months, winners earn $1,000, $750 and $500, or an additional annual grand prize worth $5,000.Submissions must be short stories or novelettes (up to 17,000 words) in the genre of science fiction or fantasy, and new and amateur writers are welcome to apply.Deadlines: Quarterly on January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1.2. Graywolf Press Nonfiction PrizeAwarded to “the most promising and innovative literary nonfiction project by a writer not yet established in the genre,” this prize provides a $12,000 advance and publication by Graywolf Press.If you live in the U.S. and have published at least one book (in any genre), you’re eligible to submit a current manuscript in progress for consideration. The judges look for winners who push the boundaries of traditional literary nonfiction.Deadline: Annually; the 2016 deadline was January 31.3. Drue Heinz Literature PrizeYou can win $15,000 and publication by the University of Pittsburgh Press with this prize, awarded for a collection of short fiction.You may submit an unpublished manuscript of short stories, two or more novellas or a combination of novellas and short stories. Your total word count should be between 150 and 300 typed pages.Deadline: Annual submission window is May 1 through June 30.4. Tony Hillerman PrizePresented by St. Martin’s Press and WORDHARVEST, this prize awards the best first mystery novel set in the Southwest with $10,000 and publication by St. Martin’s Press.It’s open to professional or non-professional writers who have not yet had a mystery published, and there are specific guidelines for the structure of your story: “Murder or another serious crime or crimes must be at the heart of the story, with emphasis on the solution rather than the details of the crime.”Deadline: Annually on June 1.5. St. Francis College Literary PrizeThis biannual prize honors mid-career writers who have recently published their third, fourth or fifth work of fiction. The winner receives $50,000 but must be able to appear at St. Francis College in Brooklyn, NY to deliver a talk on their work and teach a mini-workshop in fiction to St. Francis students.Deadline: Biannually; the deadline for work published between June 2015 and May 2017 has not been announced.6. Young Lions Fiction AwardThis $10,000 award recognizes “young authors,” which the rules define as any author aged 35 or younger. Submit any novel or short story published or scheduled to be published in the calendar year. Works must be written for adults; children’s or YA pieces are ineligible.Deadline: Annually in August.7. Real Simple’s Life Lessons Essay ContestHave you ever had a “eureka” moment? If you have, and you can write a compelling personal essay about it in no more than 1,500 words, you may be able to win $3,000 in Real Simple’s annual essay contest.Deadline: Annually; 2016 deadline has not yet been announced.8. New Voices AwardPresented by Lee & Low Books, an award-winning children’s book publisher, this award is given for a previously unpublished children’s picture book manuscript (of no more than 1,500 words) written by a writer of color.The winner receives $1,000 cash and a standard publication contract. You may submit up to two manuscripts.Deadline: Submissions must be postmarked by September 30 each year.9. Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary ExcellenceThis contest aims to provide visibility for emerging African American fiction writers and to enable them to focus on their writing by awarding a $10,000 cash prize. Eligible authors should submit a work of fiction, such as a novel or short story collection, published in the calendar year.Deadline: Annually; 2016 deadline has not yet been announced.10. PEN/Faulkner Award for FictionHonoring the best work of fiction published by an American author in a single calendar year, this award has been given to the likes of John Updike, Philip Roth and Ann Patchett.The winner receives $15,000 and an invitation to read at the award ceremony in Washington, DC. Four finalists also each receive a $5,000 award.Deadline: Annually on October 31 for books published that calendar year.$5,000 for Your History Paper!Enter your essay to win the Prize!ReadReadPioneer Institute is pleased to announce the third annual Frederick Douglass Prize Essay Contest for Massachusetts high school students. Pioneer Institute is a private, non-partisan public policy think tank with a longstanding reputation for innovative education reformWe believe that Massachusetts students are capable of excellence in history. We need your essays to prove us right.2015-16 ESSAY TOPICThe Frederick Douglass Prize asks students to respond to key questions in history. The 2015-16 contest encourages students to investigate the stories behind the many technological innovations born in Massachusetts. Choose from dozens of Bay State entrepreneurs and inventions, and develop a clearly organized and well-researched essay drawing on primary and secondary sources, that explains the greater historical impact and significance of your subject matter.TEACHERS, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY!The Frederick Douglass Prize is an excellent opportunity for your students to demonstrate their strong research and writing skills before college applications begin and to meet some very remarkable people.SAMPLE TOPICS AND IDEASThe innovative spirit that has animated America is particularly evident here in the Bay State. The colonists established themselves as a center of global maritime trade, and in 1795 Massachusetts businessmen built the country’s first railroad on Beacon Hill. Sample topics drawn from 20th and 21st century Massachusetts inventions include:The Sewing Machine: Elias Howe, born in 1819 in Spencer, developed, the nation’s first patented sewing machine, which still contain three key features that he designed: the needle, operational lock stitch, and automatic thread feed.New York’s Underground Subway: Alfred Beach, born in Springfield in 1826, invented the Beach Pneumatic Transit system to alleviate traffic.Campbell’s Condensed Soup: Dr. John T. Dorrance discovered how to condense soup without sacrificing its rich taste. His invention allowed Campbell’s to save large amounts of money on shipping. One of his five original flavors became the kitchen staple “Campbell’s Tomato Soup.”The Gillette Disposable Razor (1904): William E. Nickerson, a MIT-trained engineer, helped King Camp Gillette discover how to stamp a razor blade from an inexpensive steel sheet.The Computer: In 1928, MIT professor Vannevar Bush engineered the first manually mechanically operated analog computer, capable of solving differential equations with up to 18 independent variables. In 1951, other MIT researchers built the first computer that operated in real time, and it was used by the U.S. Navy during the Cold War.MORE INFORMATION:+ -FREDERICK DOUGLASSWhy is this contest named for Frederick Douglass?Frederick Douglass (1818-1895)Frederick Douglass fled to Massachusetts after he escaped from slavery. He lived in New Bedford and Nantucket. He became one of the most important Abolitionists and one of the most important figures in American history because he was an advocate and articulator of American freedom. Douglass’ 1845 autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, became a bestseller.Douglass’ oratorical skills were so impressive that some doubted that he had been a slave, so he wrote Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. During the Civil War he assisted in the recruiting of African-American men for the 54th and 55th Massachusetts Regiments and fought for the emancipation of slaves. After the war he worked to protect the rights of the freemen. He was secretary of the Santo Domingo Commission, marshall and recorder of deeds of the District of Columbia, and United States Minister to Haiti. His other autobiographical works are My Bondage And My Freedom and Life And Times Of Frederick Douglass, published in 1855 and 1881, respectively. He died in 1895.Nothing speaks to the dehumanizing impact of slavery and the accompanying deprivations than a human being not knowing their own birthday. His several autobiographies begin with this question about this basic fact of his life: “I was born in Tuckahoe, near Hillsborough, and about twelve miles from Easton, in Talbot county, Maryland. I have no accurate knowledge of my age, never having seen any authentic record containing it.”Frederick Douglass was one of America’s great articulators of the meaning of freedom, and the importance of understanding our past. That’s why our U.S. History essay contest is named in honor of him.+ -PRIZESPRIZESWe will recognize the top essays as follows:1st place: $5,0002nd place: $2,0003rd place: $1,000Honorable Mentions: $500 eachSchool Prize: The 1st place winner’s school will receive $1,000+ -SHOULD I ENTER?Entrants must be US citizens or resident aliens who attend a Massachusetts high school during the 2015-2016 academic year. Students who attend a boarding school in Massachusetts or are home-schooled are eligible to submit an essay. If you are interested in this year’s question and have strong writing skills, we encourage you to submit your essay.+ -PRIZE SCHEDULEMarch 7, 2016: Submission Deadline. Submit your essay through the form below.+ -CRITERIAArgument/Analysis (40%)Articulates a clear thesis supported by evidence in the essay.Uses strong textual evidence.Shows detailed analysis and interpretation.Historical Research (40%)Conducts research beyond assigned texts.Provides accurate historical information.Demonstrates a strong understanding of the historical context.Writing Quality (20%)Correct GrammarClear StructureVoice and ToneProper Citations (MLA or footnotes)If you have questions on how to develop a strong thesis, to present convincing research, and to format your bibliography, we encourage you to consult A Pocket Guide to Writing in History.+ -QUESTIONS? Micaela DawsonThe Frederick Douglass Prize Essay Contest CoordinatorPioneer Institute185 Devonshire Street, Boston MA [email protected](617) 723-2277 ext. 203High School Contests - HomeworkSpot.comWritingAmericanism Essay ContestAnnual contest offered to students in grades 7-12, with a grand prize of $5,000.American Fire Sprinkler Association National Scholarship Essay ContestTen $2,000 scholarships will be awarded to select students who read a 3,000 word sprinkler essay and complete the exam that follows. For each correct answer, the student will be reentered into the competition.Ayn Rand Institute Essay ContestContest open to middle schoolers, high schoolers and college students to write an Ayn Rand-themed essay for cash prizes.Cassini Scientist for a Day Essay Contest Students grades 5 to 12 write an essay of up to 500 words, with winning schools invited to participate in a teleconference with Cassini scientists.Carnegie Council's International Student/Teacher Essay ContestThis essay contest is open to teachers and students anywhere in the world. The essay should be written in op-ed style, length 1,000 to 1,500 words. First prize is a $250 Amazon gift card, second prize is a $150 Amazon gift card, and third prize is a $75 Amazon gift card.Civil Rights Today Essay ContestIn honor of the 50th anniversary of President Lyndon Johnson's signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, The LBJ Foundation is hosting an essay contest that is open to all 12th grade students in Texas. First prize is $2,500 and a trip to the LBJ Library in Austin, Texas, in April 2014 to attend the Civil Rights Summit. There is also a second prize of $1,000, and a $1,000 cash prize and a trip to Austin to attend the Civil Rights Summit for the first place winner's sponsoring teacher.First Freedom Student CompetitionStudents grades K-12 participate in a national essay and video contest. Students compete for $2,500.The Holocaust Remembrance ProjectNational essay contest open to high school students in the United States and Mexico, designed to encourage and promote the study of the Holocaust. Contestants compete for scholarships and a trip to Washington, D.C.The Humanist Essay Contest for Young Women and Men of North AmericaContest is open to students residing in the United States or Canada who are enrolled in grades 9-12 to compete for $1,000 and a three-year membership to the American Humanist Association.John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay ContestAnnual competition open to high school students nationwide to write an original essay about an elected official who has demonstrated political courage to receive awards totaling up to $10,000.Making Democracy Work Student Essay ContestPresented by the United States Capitol Historical Society, this writing contest asks high school students to write between 800 and 1,200 words on the rights and responsibilities of citizenship to compete for $1,000 and a trip to Washington, D.C. Additionally, a classroom grant of $1,000 plus a selection of teaching materials will be presented to the school of the first place winner. Second- and third-place prizes are $500 and $250, respectively.National Peace Essay ContestAnnual essay contest sponsored by the U.S. Institute of Peace, open to high school students to write a peace-themed essay for cash prizes.Scholastic Art & Writing AwardsStudents grades 7-12 submit their best works of visual art - including sculpture, painting, ceramics, photography, animation, video and animation - and writing - including poetry, play scripts, personal essay, works of journalism, satire and short fiction - to compete for scholarships.Society of Professional Journalists Essay ContestContest open to high school students nationwide to write an essay on a given media-related topic, with winners receiving scholarship awards ranging from $300-$1,000.Signet Classics Student Scholarship Essay ContestEach year, a new book is chosen for students to read and write about. High school juniors or seniors or home-schooled students between the ages of 16-18 are eligible to compete to win a $1,000 scholarship.Voice of Democracy Audio Essay ContestHigh school students compose an audio-essay on a theme selected by the U.S. Veterans of Foreign Wars to compete for more than $3 million in scholarships.Math and ScienceThe American Mathematics CompetitionsVarious math competitions open to qualifying students of all grade levels.Team America Rocketry ChallengeStudents in grades 7-12 can register as a team to design and build a safe and stable one-stage model rocket. Prizes include $60,000 in cash and scholarships and participation in NASA's advanced rocketry program Student Launch Initiative.NASA Space Settlement ContestInternational contest open to 6th-12th graders (11-18 years old). Students compete in teams to develop space settlement designs and related materials for various prizes.Spirit of Innovation ChallengeAnnual competition from the Conrad Foundation that invites high school students to work in teams using science, technology, engineering and math skills to develop innovative products to help solve global and local problems while supporting global sustainability. The prize is $10,000 and a trip to the Innovation Summit at NASA Johnson Space Center to present to a panel of expert judges.Artistic ExpressionGlobal Citizen Corps Contests focused on art, photography, video games and more.Web-basedGlobal Virtual Classroom Contest Global team cooperation and Website-building activity for students from 7 to 18 years of age. Awards range from $1,500 to $375 per team.ThinkQuest Website Competition Teams create an original website on a topic of global importance for a student audience. Prizes include a trip to ThinkQuest Live in San Francisco, laptop computers, digital cameras and school monetary grants.International Schools CyberFairStudents ages 5-19 years old conduct research about their local communities, then publish their findings on the Web for various prizes and awards.Doors to DiplomacyU. S. Department of State "Doors to Diplomacy" educational challenge to encourage middle school and high school students to produce Web projects that teach others about the importance of international affairs and diplomacy. Students on winning team receive a $2,000 scholarship, and the winning coaches' schools each receive a $500 cash award.Other Fun ContestsGloria Barron Prize for Young HeroesStudents ages 8-18 must be nominated by a qualifying adult for their leadership and courage in developing and implementing an exceptional service project. Ten students will be chosen to win $2,500 to be applied to their higher education or service project.The Institute for Global Environmental StrategiesArt, photo and other project-based contests open to students of all ages.National History Day Contest Students in grades 6-12 engage in discovery and interpretation of historical topics related to an annual theme. Awards range from $250 to $1,000, in addition to other prizes.National High School Chef of the YearHigh school students submit an original creation recipe to compete for tuition scholarship prizes to JWU culinary school.Essay Contest Scholarships - 2016 2017 USAScholarships.com“We the Students Scholarship” Essay Contestby Scholarship Advisor onDecember 15, 2016in Contest, FebruaryDo you want to win one of more than $20,000 in prizes and a trip to Washington, D.C.? Don’t waste your time and apply today. You can win cash just by register yourself for “We the Students Essay Contest”. The contest is open to students who are no older than 19 and no younger than […]Continue ReadingYoung Patriots Essay Contestby Scholarship Advisor onDecember 13, 2016in Contest, JanuaryThe National Center for Policy Analysis and Debate Central are happy to announce the 2016-2017 Young Patriots Essay Contest. The essay contest is sponsored by Copart, the premier destination for quality vehicles. The Young Patriots Essay Contest is designed to challenge middle and high school students to creatively engage with public policy and current events through […]Continue ReadingThe National WWII Museum Essay Contestby Scholarship Advisor onNovember 26, 2016in Any Subject, Contest, December, High School Students, ScholarshipsThe National WWII Museum is pleased to announce High School Essay Contest and Middle School Essay Contest. To commemorate the life, courage and achievements of Elie Wiesel, the National WWII Museum is asking middle and high school students to respond to a quote by Wiesel about his life and legacy. Winning essays will be posted […]Continue ReadingSharps Compliance Inc. Scholarship Essay Contestby Scholarship Advisor onNovember 24, 2016in Any Subject, Contest, December, Scholarships by Major, Social and Health Care Programs, UndergraduateSharps Compliance Inc. is now accepting the application for its Scholarship Essay Contest. Sharps’ essay contest is open to all students who have been accepted to or are currently enrolled in an accredited university in healthcare related studies. Sharps Compliance strives to innovate new services that are regulatory compliant and environmentally sensitive. They will be […]Continue ReadingThe Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competitionby Scholarship Advisor onNovember 23, 2016in Contest, International Students, MayThe Royal Commonwealth Society has launched “The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2017”, focusing on the topic of “A Commonwealth for Peace”. The competition is open to all citizens and residents of the Commonwealth aged 18 and under. This year’s topics ask for a more active understanding of the role of the Commonwealth as a network […]Continue ReadingQuitDay.Org Scholarship Contestby Scholarship Advisor onNovember 18, 2016in Contest, Graduate, March, ScholarshipsQuitDay.org — Vaping News, Reviews, and Much More! is currently accepting scholarship applications. QuitDay.org — Vaping News, Reviews, and Much More! awards $3,000 in scholarships each year to students who share their vision for a smoke-free world. With the QuitDay.org — Vaping News, Reviews, and Much More! Scholarship, they want to challenge current and prospective college students to share their story on how we can make the world smoke-free. The winning applicants for first, second and third place receive scholarships in the amounts of […]Continue ReadingTOPSS Competition for High School Psychology Studentsby Scholarship Advisor onNovember 12, 2016in Contest, MarchThe APA Teachers of Psychology in Secondary Schools (TOPSS) is pleased to announce the 2017 APA TOPSS Competition for High School Psychology Students. To be entering in scholarship contest, the candidates should submit an essay that provides information concerning physical, psychological and social factors that influence the aging process. Four winners will be selected for […]Continue ReadingThe Washington State Law Enforcement Association Essay Contestby Scholarship Advisor onNovember 12, 2016in Contest, FebruaryThe 23rd annual 8th grade Washington State Law Enforcement Association Essay Contest is kicking off. The basic goals of WSLEA are to improve the effectiveness and professionalism of law enforcement in Washington State and to implement or support a wide range of community related programs and services. WSLEA encourages all schools to participate and stimulate […]Continue ReadingInvensis Young Thinker Scholarship Essay Awardby Scholarship Advisor onNovember 7, 2016in Contest, NovemberInvensis Technologies Pvt Ltd is pleased to honor the launch of the ‘Invensis Young Thinker Scholarship Essay Award’. The award is a unique opportunity for students in USA, UK, and Australia to showcase their knowledge and skills in the form of an insightful essay and win laurels for their efforts. Through the award, they like […]Continue ReadingThe Center for Alcohol Policy’s National Essay Contestby Scholarship Advisor onOctober 19, 2016in Contest, DecemberThe Center for Alcohol Policy is sponsoring its “Ninth Annual Essay Contest” to all persons who are over the age of 18 as of December. Students, academics, practicing attorneys, policymakers and members of the general public are encouraged to submit essays. The contest is intended to foster debate, analysis and examination of state alcohol regulation. […]Continue ReadingCustom-Writing.org Essay Writing Contestby Scholarship Advisor onOctober 15, 2016in Contest, DecemberCustom Writing Service | Sale Now On: -20% Off | FREE Quality Check! is pleased to announce Essay Writing Contest to the most vivid, versatile, and talented writers. Any student, regardless of academic level and location of studies, can participate. The Essay Writing Contest is not only about finding people who can write well. Indeed, the aim of the contest is to identify individuals who have both […]Continue ReadingThe PIABA Dubin Scholarship Contestby Scholarship Advisor onSeptember 8, 2016in Contest, Law, SeptemberThe PIABA Foundation is sponsoring Dubin Scholarship Contest for students interested in Securities Arbitration and Securities Law. The purpose of the competition is to promote greater interest in understanding of the fields of securities arbitration, securities law and to encourage excellent legal writing skills in law students. Three winners will be selected and they will […]Continue ReadingNaval Institute’s General Prize Essay Contestby Scholarship Advisor onSeptember 5, 2016in Contest, DecemberThe General Prize Essay Contest invites you to “dare to write in order to advance the professional, literary, and scientific understanding of sea power and other issues critical to national defense.” The contest is open to all persons eligible for membership (including those already members) in the Institute. The winning candidates will obtain one-year memberships […]Continue ReadingSCEA Unity in Education Essay Contestby Scholarship Advisor onSeptember 3, 2016in Contest, FebruaryThe South Carolina Education Association encourages students across the state to join their historic 50 Year Anniversary & Celebration by taking part in their FIRST EVER “Unity in Education” Essay Contest. SCEA is the professional association for educators in South Carolina. The contest is open to middle school/intermediate, high school & college students. Essays will […]Continue ReadingGRHS Youth Essay Contestby Scholarship Advisor onAugust 19, 2016in Contest, International Students, MarchAn International GRHS Essay Contest is sponsored by the Germans from Russia Heritage Society. The contest is intended to encourage students from around the world to learn about the history and culture of the German-Russians, people who emigrated from Germany into Russia during the 18th and 19th centuries. Winning contestants will be invited to receive […]Continue ReadingBaxter Family Competition on Federalismby Scholarship Advisor onAugust 16, 2016in Contest, International Students, SeptemberMcGill University’s Faculty of Law and the Peter MacKell Chair in Federalism are proud to announce the creation of the Baxter Family Competition on Federalism. The overarching goal of this prestigious bi‐annual essay competition is to advance research and foster informed debate on federalism by law students, as well as law Ph.D. candidates, junior legal […]Continue ReadingAEL Collegiate Essay Contestby Scholarship Advisor onAugust 11, 2016in August, ContestHave an opinion on United States Political Affairs? Want to share your thoughts for a chance at up to $2500? Enter in Americanism Educational Leaders Collegiate Essay Contest as it is a perfect opportunity for undergraduate students to express their equally strong belief in American exceptionalism. The essay contest is sponsored by The Americanism Educational […]Continue ReadingAyn Rand Institute Essay Contestby Scholarship Advisor onAugust 11, 2016in Contest, International Students, MarchHave you read one of Ayn Rand’s thought-provoking novels? Now’s the time! Enter in Ayn Rand Institute Essay Contest for your chance to win thousands of dollars in cash prizes. The contest is open to worldwide for 8th, 9th or 10th-grade students. ARI has held worldwide essay contests for students on Ayn Rand’s fiction for […]Continue ReadingBrian Zeiger College Scholarship Essay Contestby Scholarship Advisor onJuly 18, 2016in Contest, OctoberAt Brian Zeiger LLC, they understands the rising cost of higher education has become increasingly more difficult to manage, and student loan debt is at an all-time high that’s why in an effort to help students meet their financial needs, The Zeiger Firm is pleased to offer Essay Contest for currently enrolled students in an […]Continue ReadingGagne Scherer & Associates LLC Scholarshipby Scholarship Advisor onJuly 2, 2016in Any Subject, Contest, July, Scholarships, Scholarships by MajorThe military trial lawyers of Gagne, Scherer & Associates, LLC believe that a quality education is one of the most valuable assets for young students today. For this reason, they are pleased to announce scholarship program to the students who plan on pursuing a course of study at a college or university for the school […]Continue Reading

Life right now is almost totally online. We made this guide to show you how the web can help you through this difficult time.Are you looking for: self-carelearningentertainmentinternetlandhow to helpkeeping in touchresources for parentscovid-19 infoThis page will continue to be updated, but we need to hear from you. .:*・°☆ What are we missing?Are you looking for ...self-carelearningentertainmentinternetlandhow to helpkeeping in touchresources for parentscovid-19 infoself-careThere’s a lot we used to do out there that we can do inside. Sure, life via the web will never feel like it does IRL, but there are plenty of ways to be active, healthy and connected to the Earth from your desk or — no shame — your bed.Take a dance or movement classCook from our lovely recipe indexCheck out wildflower bloom webcamsworking outIt’s totally possible to .:*・°☆ work on your physical fitness while stuck inside. California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s stay-at-home order says it’s fine to go running or biking in your neighborhood, but if you can’t go out, there are plenty of ways to stay moving at home.A good starting place: Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has posted his .:*・°☆ famous home workout program online for free. But if you were already paying to work out somewhere, look to its website and social media accounts. Vendors from .:*・°☆ ClassPass to .:*・°☆ small local gyms are now offering versions of their classes through social media or their own platforms.We’ve also compiled the .:*・°☆ best online dance and movement classes, many of them free.mental healthSomething else on your mind? Pay close attention to what’s going on upstairs. For some, it’s crucial to cultivate good mental health and mindfulness whether crisis looms or not. If you’ve never practiced breathing or meditation before, now’s a great time to dive in: Here’s a list of .:*・°☆ practical tips and online tools that can help with the anxiety of the moment.UCLA’s Mindful Awareness Research Center has .:*・°☆ free exercises uploaded. Try a five-minute breathing meditation.The L.A. County Department of Mental Health has partnered with Headspace to offer some .:*・°☆ meditations and sleep and movement exercises for free through 2020, curated with Angelenos in mind.eatingWe miss eating out. L.A.’s insanely vibrant restaurant and street food scene is simply the jam — please .:*・°☆ support those businesses if you can. You can still order delivery and .:*・°☆ takeout through many restaurants directly or through any of the popular apps, but please respect delivery people and cooks: Keep your distance when picking up food and tip well.We’re going to guess you’re cooking a lot. Our food department has lovingly revamped the Los Angeles Times Cooking .:*・°☆ recipe database, and it’s an incredible resource whether you need something to .:*・°☆ center you, .:*・°☆ distract you or… whatever this decadent .:*・°☆ Dalgona tiramisu wants to do to you.If you’re new to the game, learn some basics from our new series .:*・°☆ How to Boil Water. Every weekday, our friends in Food will share a fundamental cooking technique and an easy way to use it through a story and accompanying recipe. You can catch them on .:*・°☆ Instagram Live at 6 p.m. PDT the same day if you have any questions.And remember: .:*・°☆ Use .:*・°☆ that .:*・°☆ freezer.beautyJust because we’re stuck at home doesn’t mean we can’t look our best.Feel like it’s time for a hair touch-up? These .:*・°☆ tips to trim and color your hair will help you manage until you can get back to the salon. If you’re longing for more drastic change and have the proper tools on hand, learn how to cut your own hair from .:*・°☆ articles, .:*・°☆ videos or .:*・°☆ celebrity hair stylist Brad Mondo. And if it doesn’t go as planned, cheer yourself up by knowing .:*・°☆ you’re in good company.Now that all of California’s nail salons are temporarily closed, you may find your nails in need of a little love. Learn how to remove your old manicure and take care of nails at home using these .:*・°☆ tips from a celebrity manicurist. Then, find a fancy .:*・°☆ new nail look you can do yourself.If you’re more interested in .:*・°☆ skin care, there are plenty of tutorials that show you how to make .:*・°☆ face masks and .:*・°☆ scrubs with ingredients you might have at home. Generously apply a freshly-made mask and try practicing some .:*・°☆ deep breathing as you let the ingredients work their magic.learning opportunitiesTake this time to learn something new. There’s an enormous amount of information out there. Here are a few of our favorite places (and tidbits!) to learn that you might not have come across.Challenge yourself to #100DaysOfCodeFinally learn to draw from awesome artistsGo down a Wikipedia rabbit hole!skills and knowledgeWe’ve put together .:*・°☆ 50 (!) skills you can learn for free from home. If none of those strike your fancy, .:*・°☆ pick up a language, .:*・°☆ learn to paint with your friends (or kids) or take on the .:*・°☆ #100DaysOfCode challenge. There are tons of .:*・°☆ free sites for those who want to learn.Drawing is an accessible and cheap thing to practice while isolated. .:*・°☆ Wendy McNaughton and .:*・°☆ Mo Willems are excellent teachers if you and your family (or housemates) want to get into it together.The best information online often comes from communities, places where people with different levels and spheres of knowledge get together to share it without gatekeepers (other than mods). Subreddits — forums dedicated to particular subjects on Reddit — can be a fantastic way to hear what likeminded people are talking about, and to ask questions yourself. Check out .:*・°☆ r /SkincareAddiction “for anything and everything having to deal with skin” (fair warning: a variety of dermatological troubleshooting goes on in there).Finally, the Internet Archive has opened the .:*・°☆ National Emergency Library, a collection of almost 1.5 million digitized publications that will be available to the public through the duration of the declared national emergency. Though that hasn’t happened without .:*・°☆ controversy .the Wikipedia rabbit hole libraryThere’s nothing quite like .:*・°☆ losing yourself in a whirlpool of Wikipedia links. The free encyclopedia has an entry for just about everything, and we’re putting together a compendium of our favorite places to get lost.Here are a few selections to get you started, but .:*・°☆ send us yours!Flags of extinct statesGoofer dustList of sandwichesList of people who have disappearedTimeline of the far futureOK gestureDeep-sea gigantismList of cryptids1561 celestial phenomenon over NurembergList of micronationsAnd yes, rabbit holes have been .:*・°☆ gamified.entertainmentSitting at home all day isn’t easy, whether you’re working or not. But the internet was a portal to some of the best media out there before this pandemic. We’ve endeavored to guide you to some of our favorite stuff across the mediascape. Revel in distraction every now and then.Stream tv and movies for free from homeListen to one of our excellent podcastsTry a heart-warming social gametv / moviesThere’s more television to watch than ever before — and, for many cooped up inside during the coronavirus outbreak, more time to watch it. If you’re in the mood to binge, .:*・°☆ we polled 51 TV experts about the one TV show they recommend for self-quarantine. If you’re on a budget, use .:*・°☆ our guide to free streaming offers to stretch your entertainment dollars. And if you need to keep your kids occupied (and yourself sane), .:*・°☆ we can help with that too. Still not enough? Every Monday, the Times' TV team shares .:*・°☆ what shows we can’t get enough of this week. Plus, there’s always the newly released reunion episode of .:*・°☆ “Parks and Recreation.”gamesWe’ve got a guide to .:*・°☆ simple , social games to get you through. For something unusual, try some of Jonathan Blow’s unorthodox games like .:*・°☆ Braid (a brain-bending meta comment on games themselves) or .:*・°☆ The Witness (puzzles, but really though).Perhaps unsurprisingly, a lot of the games we’re playing right now have a .:*・°☆ very offline and even .:*・°☆ pastoral .:*・°☆ vibe . But for old-school nerds, the Internet Archive has released the .:*・°☆ Internet Arcade, where you can emulate 1970s coin-op classics.audioFollow your favorite artists everywhere. We’re seeing live music on Twitch, TikTok, Instagram … just about anywhere you can set up a stream. .:*・°☆ The Metropolitan Opera is streaming opera for free nightly. .:*・°☆ Swae Lee “brought a fan onstage” on Instagram Live. No matter your tastes, you’ll be able to find great music.If you need something to listen to on runs or walks around the neighborhood, get into one of our .:*・°☆ podcasts . We just released .:*・°☆ “Asian Enough,” about what it’s like to be Asian American.the great outdoorsIf you’re walking around your neighborhood (or more likely sticking your head out the window), apps like .:*・°☆ iNaturalist can connect you to other people cataloging the world around them and help you identify things you see in the wild (which for now should only be the few blocks around your house, please). For those with specifically avian tastes, now’s as good a time as any to .:*・°☆ learn some bird calls. But don’t use an app with bird-call sounds to lure them to you. Hearing synthetic calls can confuse and exhaust real birds.Armchair naturalists will not be disappointed, either. Copious .:*・°☆ live webcams plug you into both close and distant ecosystems, whether you want to see .:*・°☆ mountain lions that roam the Angeles National Forest or .:*・°☆ eagles that live at Dollywood. For us Californians, it’s wildflower season in parts of the state. It might hurt to see digitally, but you can still check out the incredible .:*・°☆ Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve bloom online.Consider closing your eyes and getting away from the screen for a while. Some Angelenos will already know the sound of howling coyotes well, but here’s a .:*・°☆ high -grade recording at (the currently closed) Yellowstone National Park. Listen to more sounds from several national parks over at the National Park Service’s delightfully named .:*・°☆ Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division.If you’ve got a yard, or even a planter, .:*・°☆ get started gardening! Our Plants section has the answers to the most common .:*・°☆ indoor and .:*・°☆ outdoor plant questions.Once night rolls around, learn how to enjoy the night sky from your backyard (or balcony) with these .:*・°☆ astronomy tips. This .:*・°☆ basic introduction to the sky will make it easier for you to spot the planet and stars above you.sportsThe much-anticipated launch of ESPN’s and Netflix’s five-week, .:*・°☆ 10-episode Michael Jordan docu-series merits this mixed metaphor: It will be the Super Bowl of the sports shutdown. Film and interviews harvested more than two decades ago will finally see the light of day this Sunday night. The wait was worth it, writes Times TV editor Matt Brennan.For the last two decades, The Times' in-house Hall of Famer, Sam Farmer, has taken arguably the most overcooked concept in sports media, the mock draft, and turned it into something truly different. Rather than one or two reporters representing all 32 teams, the common approach for a mock draft, Sam has assembled 32 beat writers, one for each team, to give the concept a level of expertise and authenticity that exists nowhere else. And this year, for the first time, The Times will .:*・°☆ stream “The All 32,” offering a decent facsimile of the actual draft, which began on April 23.internetlandWe consider the internet a spectacle, a medium and a venue, all at once. It’s the freakiest thing in the world, impossible to summarize or caricature but easy to love or hate. More simply, it means different things to different people. We asked around the newsroom and plumbed our own bookmarks for some fantastic surfing.Watch a man silently build things outdoorsFind a labyrinth near you (but for later)Laugh at influencers in the wildStart by watching something that has likely never been seen by anyone else—except the person who uploaded it. .:*・°☆ Astronaut .io plays a YouTube video whose makers never changed the default name, and which often have zero views. Forget the tastemakers for a minute: there’s a wide, wide world out there, unedited and unfiltered.For more good (mostly) clean weirdness, we were delighted to find .:*・°☆ UbuWeb, a classic clearinghouse for everything avant-garde about art, is still online. From video to visual poetry to electronic music, there’s a lot to look through, so click or tap freely and don’t think too hard.Did you know there are labyrinths all around us, all over the world? Find one to visit when health experts say we can travel freely, on the .:*・°☆ Worldwide Labyrinth Locator.An anonymous contributor from our newsroom “check[s] the .:*・°☆ weather in Oymyakon, the coldest continuously inhabited place on earth.”Confuse the algorithms with some .:*・°☆ glitchy text..:*・°☆ Where ’d the Internet come from, anyway? (Good for kids, too!)It takes an astounding quantity of material and energy to build and run all this stuff we’ve made to stay connected, from platforms to devices to software. For a heady analysis of what that means for the world order, look no further than Benjamin Bratton’s essay .:*・°☆ The Black Stack.Try to IPO your way out of the dystopian start-up simulator .:*・°☆ The Founder.Want to combine the internet with the analog? Here’s an aside recommended by our data and graphics editor, .:*・°☆ Ben Welsh:Cooped up, spying out, watching for the worst, the apartment dweller of today is cast in a role not unlike the .:*・°☆ fire lookout, who perches in a far-flung mountain cabin, paranoid eyes trained on arid hills.As software continues its .:*・°☆ leisurely lunch, devouring more and more of our economy, the guard against wildfires has also been assimilated by the internet.Scientists working with a program called ALERTWildfire have mounted webcams on ridges across the West. Their network offers high-elevation views from Southern California up to the Canadian border, where a .:*・°☆ camera at the Aeneas Lookout surveys the nation's northern ranges.The latest view from Aeneas Lookout.It sits not far from Desolation Peak, where Jack Kerouac once served as a lookout. The beat author wrote about the experience in numerous works, perhaps best in .:*・°☆ “The Dharma Bums,” his book about, among other things, mountaineering, Buddhism and the power of quiet contemplation.My advice for those lost and lurking in internetland: Accept the things you cannot change. Open up the view from Aeneas Lookout. Sit down. Finally get around to reading “The Dharma Bums.” Contemplate.Have another weird experience in mind? .:*・°☆ Tell us about it!Selling paper clips sounds boring, but stick with it through this .:*・°☆ simple game. You can learn a lot about business through this lo-fi, super-clicky distillation of capitalism.One of the most fabulous properties of code is that it allows us to perform tasks automatically, over and over. It would be hard to find a better venue for this to play out than Twitter, where people rig bots to do all sorts of things. There’s a galaxy of them out there. Start by reading .:*・°☆ text generated in the style of magical realism, .:*・°☆ taking a daily quiz, or looking at a .:*・°☆ different opossum every hour.Know a bit of development and want to make your own weird stuff? Here’s an .:*・°☆ open source list of tools started by artist and developer .:*・°☆ Everest Pipkin.These people are .:*・°☆ dating through this, y’all! (No touching.).:*・°☆ Always read the comments..:*・°☆ Primitive Technology is a hypnotic, wordless series of videos filmed by a man in the woods in Australia making things — from a fired pot to a tiled hut — by hand, with no modern tools. You will watch them all. (Pro tip: descriptions of his process are in the subtitles, but you’ll lose the spirituality of it all.)A final tasty byte for you: .:*・°☆ Crows are very, very smart. .:*・°☆ Influencers … maybe not so much.ways to be helpfulAt the heart of this guide is the idea that, though isolated, we are not alone. Organizations around the world have embraced the altruistic possibilities of the internet since its inception. We’ve collected a number of the easiest and most effective ways you can help others from your device.Track animals to help conservationistsLoan some computing power to scienceTranscribe anti-slavery documentstranscriptionThe Library of Congress launched the .:*・°☆ By the People project in 2018, which allows you to help them transcribe, review, and tag digitized materials from their collection. You—yes, you—can dramatically deepen the historical record, helping to catalog documents by .:*・°☆ suffragettes , the poet .:*・°☆ Walt Whitman, and the nurse and Red Cross founder .:*・°☆ Clara Barton, among others.The Boston Public Library needs assistance transcribing the .:*・°☆ manuscripts of anti-slavery activists from the 19th century.The Newberry, an independent research library in Chicago, could use your help transcribing .:*・°☆ several collections, like the manuscripts in .:*・°☆ American Indian History: Letters & Diaries or .:*・°☆ Family Life in the Midwest.Project Gutenberg, whose founder claims to have invented the eBook, provides free eBooks and other media to people without Internet access. Though not purely transcription projects, there are .:*・°☆ many ways you can help.distributed computingAlmost everything a computer does requires processing. And though computers are faster than they’ve ever been, there are still massive data sets out there that individual systems can’t possibly crunch.You can donate portions of your computer’s processing power to organizations doing important work, even with zero technical skill and only a few minutes of installation. These programs often work in the background by running an application that uses a small portion of your computer’s brain when you’re not. A ton of people doing this at once means that the crunchers can crunch way more data than they might be able to on their own. Here’s a .:*・°☆ list of distributed computing projects you can participate in..:*・°☆ Folding @home is a good one: it uses distributed computing to focus on biology, and one of their main efforts right now is studying COVID-19.citizen scienceCitizen science projects connect you to people studying our world in the hopes of making it better, and they can be incredibly fun. Start by .:*・°☆ tracking giraffes and other wildlife to help conservationists in northern Kenya, .:*・°☆ finding kelp forests from space, or .:*・°☆ editing and verifying built structures for the USGS’ National Map.|￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣| | PLEASE | | SUPPORT | | (if you can!) | |＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿| (\__/) || (•ㅅ•) || / づ  .:*・°☆ Support our journalism ☆°・*:.Thinking of trying one of the suggestions on this page? If you found this story helpful, please consider subscribing (that's one more thing you can do online ☺). .:*・°☆ Get full access to our journalism for just 99 cents for the first four weeks. Already a subscriber? Your support makes our work possible. Thank you.ways to keep in touchNo one is pretending that seeing your family and friends exclusively through a screen compares to the real thing. But it’s something.Watch Netflix with friends easilyCreate whole worlds in MinecraftFinally dive into Dungeons & Dragonsstaying connectedThere are so many ways to engage online that we broke down the best ways to .:*・°☆ keep in touch while we’re socially isolated. If you’re looking for something to do while hanging out, try the .:*・°☆ Netflix Party extension, which will let you synchronize viewing with friends and chat at the same time, or a carefully-timed countdown to hitting play. You might be tired of watching things, though. To get the most out of quality time with your people, read about how to have .:*・°☆ Zoom parties that are actually fun.For the security-minded, download .:*・°☆ Signal , an encrypted calling and messaging app. And to keep in touch with us, tell us what you know over at our .:*・°☆ tip line. (Please only use this for important stories you think we should cover! To recommend additions to our guide, use the form on this page.)social gamingFor a more interactive hang, it’s not too late to start gaming your way through this thing. Grab some friends and construct jaw-dropping worlds in .:*・°☆ Minecraft , or defeat enemies in .:*・°☆ League of Legends. Or if you’re looking for something more heart-warming, Times game critic Todd Marten has .:*・°☆ 5 social games that can restore your faith in humanity.You can also try out your roleplaying skills with .:*・°☆ Dungeons & Dragons, a collaborative storytelling game where you can go on .:*・°☆ countless adventures with your friends. One player becomes the .:*・°☆ world-maker and the other .:*・°☆ characters decide where to take the story. Check out D&D’s advice for starting .:*・°☆ remote D&D play.working from homeIf you’re lucky and can work from home, do. Though some don’t have the luxury, making sure the rest of us stay distant from people outside our households (for as long as public health experts deem it necessary) is crucial to stopping the virus’ spread.There’s no substitute for face-to-face gossip with your co-workers, but working from home has some benefits: you can get up later; stop dressing up; make your home a comfortable place to work. Times editor Jessica Roy loves working from home and explained .:*・°☆ how to do it right.A few tips from the Data and Graphics Desk: 1) Mute yourself on calls when you’re not talking to eliminate audio feedback and interference (in Zoom: ⌘Cmd+Shift+A on a Mac, Alt+A on a PC; in Slack: m on any OS). 2) The pencil icon at the bottom of a screen share window in Slack allows you to draw on the screen, and what you draw is visible to everyone, making collaboration a thousand times easier. 3) Try an app that reminds you to take breaks. It can be hard to know when you’re off when your home is your office. Apps like .:*・°☆ BreakTimer can help remind you to give your eyes and wrists a break (or whatever you’d like a reminder for).Even virtually, .:*・°☆ pop in every now and then: nothing wrong with a pop-in! If you’re staying in touch via Zoom, consider hopping on the ・.:*・☆ background bandwagon and cracking up your co-workers during meetings. But regardless, stay in contact with your co-workers and check in often. It helps.The internet is a big place. Tell us what we're missing. ☺resources for parentsWith stay-at-home orders in place, it’s up to parents to entertain kids and help them keep up with schoolwork. Thankfully, there are plenty of resources online: homeschooling hacks, arts and crafts, and activities that can entertain children or the whole family. Got more tips? .:*・°☆ Let us know.homeschoolingSchools are expected to stay closed for the rest of the year, leaving parents to homeschool their kids. If this is you, check out these .:*・°☆ homeschooling hacks and learn .:*・°☆ how other parents started homeschooling. A .:*・°☆ flexible schedule could also help keep you and your family more organized and sane.arts and craftsLet your creativity (and maybe a little glitter?) shine with some arts and crafts.If you have a spare bit of pavement in front of your house, then break out the sidewalk chalk and get to drawing! Doodling is awesome, but there are also lots of .:*・°☆ sidewalk chalk games that you can check out. Bonus: your drawing is sure to cheer up any person who walks by it.Grab some paper and pencils and get to doodling during .:*・°☆ lunchtime doodles with Mo Willems.Make some .:*・°☆ finger puppets and put on a puppet show for the family!Discover new uses for old things with .:*・°☆ Recycle and Play, a site for recycled crafts and activitiesreading cornerNow is the perfect time to journey to far-off lands and wander through wardrobes, learn how to be a wizard, or discover where the wild things are. Listen to .:*・°☆ Michelle Obama read a beloved children’s book every Monday or relax to .:*・°☆ Dolly Parton reading bedtime stories every Thursday. Story Time from Space has .:*・°☆ NASA astronauts reading from space and sharing interesting factoids about spacecrafts.activitiesIf you’re arts and crafts’d out, and that favorite fairytale is putting you to sleep, find a new activity! The internet is the perfect place to discover one without having to leave your home..:*・°☆ National Geographic has a kids section packed with brain boosters, arts and crafts, games and, of course, pages dedicated to .:*・°☆ your favorite animal.If you’d rather just look at your favorite animal, that’s an option too. .:*・°☆ Monterey Bay Aquarium and .:*・°☆ San Diego Zoo have live cams so you can watch animals in and out of water.Like history? The .:*・°☆ National Museum of American History has put together a list of activities that kids of all ages will enjoy.Got .:*・°☆ kids under 5? Times writer Sonja Sharp has activities that can help you get through the day.Don’t forget to leave room for games! .:*・°☆ Educational games are always a good option. Or you can host a .:*・°☆ virtual family game night with these online games.